Buffing wheel



NOV. 18, 1941. w s THOMAS 2,263,410

BUFFING WHEEL Filed July 24, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 (Ittorneg NOV. 18, 1941. w 5 THQMAS 2,263,410

BUFFING WHEEL Filed Ju ly 24, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 18, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- BUFFING WHEEL -Wayne S. Thomas, Detroit, Mich. Application July 24, 1940, Serial No. 347,136 9 Claims. (01. 51-193) My invention relates to a buffing wheel, comprising a plurality of rigid circular or helical segments, preferably made of wire, to support a corresponding number of pieces of bufiing fabric, secured to and overlapping the wire segments. The ends of the several wire segments extend beyond the ends of the buffing fabric and are bent to form spokes attached to a central hub.

In the manufacture of the bufling wheel, a plurality of relatively short pieces of a suitable textile fabric, are respectively secured to a plurality of the supporting segments, the several segments overlapping to formv an annular ring, with the ends of the integral spokes spot-welded to a central hub, or to a plurality of concentric rings, thereby forming a complete circular unit, which may be coupled with a plurality of other like units to provide a bufling wheel of any desired perimeter and axial length, or width, by mounting the several units in juxtaposition on a suitable driving spindle.

It will be apparent from the description following, that one of the many objects of the present invention is to simplify and reduce the manufacturing cost of buifing wheels, by an improved construction in which a plurality of relatively short circular wire segments serve to support short sections of buifing fabric forming the wheel, said wire segments also serving to rapidly conduct and thereby dissipate the heat generated at the points of greatest concentration, to avoid scorching or burning of the bufiing fabric, thereby materially lengthening the life and effective operation of this bufiing wheel over apparatus for a like purpose, now in use.

A further object and advantage of the present invention consists in the rapid formation of a wheel having a bufling surface of uniform density and thicknessaxial breadth-throughut its entire outer boundary, or perimeter of the wheel, by an assemblage of individual buffing sections nested in contiguous relation, so that the projecting ends of each helix of the several sections will abut and interlock with the corresponding end of the helix of the contiguous section, thereby securing the respective sections against individual, or independent rotation, when in nested relationship.

Having briefly outlined the purpose, and also certain of the objects of the present invention, further advantages and improvements will be disclosed by an examination of the drawings, and more particularly described in the following specifications and claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a circular segment for supporting a portion of the buffing fabric of the wheel.

Figure 2 is a similar elevation showing the integral spokes of the segment,spot-weldedto a pair of concentric hub rings.

Figure '3 is a similar elevation including a second segment, with its spokes secured to the hub rings.

Figure 4 is an elevation showing a third section added, the respective sections being helically disposed in relation to each otherthereby completing the wheel framethe bufiing fabric supported by the sections having been deleted in the foregoing views for greater clarity.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 show a modification in which the supporting segment'stwo in number-may be stacked When assembled, one above the other, as indicated in Figure 7.

Figure 8 is a perspective View of two supporting segments, spirally disposed in relation to each other, showing in broken lines the buffing fabric secured to one of said supporting segments.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of one section of the buffing wheel.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of one section of a buffing Wheel, and in dotted lines a fragment of the buffing fabric of an adjacent section or portion, spaced from the section shown in full lines, to disclose more clearly how a uniform thickness-axial breadth-may be obtained when sections are assembled in contiguous relation, for example when nested together, with the ends of the helixes of adjacent sections in abutting interlocking relation, to secure said sections against individual rotation in respect to each other.

Referring now to the reference characters on the drawings:

Numeral l, denotes an arc-shaped segment having integral inwardly bent opposing end portions, spaced apart to receive a driving spindle. not shown.

Numeral 2, indicates one or more hub rings to which the spokes 3, formed by the inwardly directed ends of the arc-shaped segments I, are spot-Welded, to form one of the supporting units of the respective sections of the bufiing wheel fabric 4, previously secured to the segments by a line of stitches 5, sewn through the buffing fabric, or by other suitable securing means.

In Figures 1 to 4 the arc-shaped segments I,

are designed when fitted with their respective portions of bufling fabric 4, to be helically assembled in relation to each other and spotwelded to the hub ring 2, to form a buffing wheel unit, which may be enlarged to any required width by assembling a plurality of like units in contiguous relation thereto, upon a driving spindle, not shown.

The circular segments I, which are identical for each buifing wheel, reduc to a minimum the number of different parts to be handled or required, to form the bufiing wheel. A further advantage noted in the construction is that each section or segment is inherently self-balanced.

To complete the fabrication of the wheel, the several textile units are stitched together as indicated at 5, around the supporting segments, thereby securing the respective pieces together, and against circumferential displacement. It will be noted that this construction has several manufacturing advantages, for example the pieces of fabric are relatively short, being less than the length of the circumference of the wheel, and therefore are easily handled, and are assured of adequate support.

What I claim is:

1. In a buifing wheel section: a plurality of helically wound buffing fabrics; a plurality of helically formed members for supporting the buffing fabrics; a central hub, adapted to be mounted on a spindle; and means for connecting the helically formed members in spaced concentric relationship to the central hub, whereby an air space is provided between the fabric and the inner periphery of said hub.

2. In a buffing wheel section; a plurality of arc-shaped buffing fabrics having approximately uniform angular disposition about an axis; a plurality of arc-shaped members having corresponding disposition, adapted to support the respective buffing fabrics; a central hub for mounting the unit on a spindle; and means for connecting the supporting members in spaced relationship to the central hub, whereby an air space is provided between the fabric and hub.

3. In a buffing wheel section: a plurality of helically interwound buffing fabrics; a plurality of interwound helically formed members for supporting the buffing fabrics, including integral means for connecting the supporting means in spaced relation to a central hub; and a centrally disposed hub adapted for mounting the unit on a spindle.

4. In a bufiing wheel section: a plurality of buffing fabrics helically interwound about a common axis; a plurality of supporting members, each adapted to support a helix of buffing fabric; means for connecting each supporting member in spaced relation to a central hub; and a central hub for mounting the unit on a spindle.

5. In a device of the character described: a hub; a plurality of helices of bufling fabric, supported in spaced relationship from the hub, whereby an air space is provided between the fabric and the hub; a plurality of supports, collectively adapted to form a bufilng Wheel section; said section having substantially uniform variations in wall thickness.

6. In a bufiing wheel section; a central hub; a plurality of arcs of buffing fabric; a plurality of metallic arc-shaped members, each adapted to support an arc of buffing fabric in spaced relation to the central hub, whereby an air space is provided between said arc-shaped members and the central hub, said arc-shaped member being. adapted to conduct heat, and transfer it from the body of the fabric to said air-space; and means for mounting the section on a spindle.

'7. In a bufllng wheel section: a plurality of segmented wire members secured in spaced relationship to a central hub, adapted to support a buffing fabric, whereby an air space is provided between the fabric and the inner periphery of the hub; a hub provided with air openings; and a plurality of bufiing fabrics supported by said segmental wire members.

8. In a buffing wheel; a plurality of segmental wire members. having integral spokes secured t a central hub; a central hub; and a plurality of buffing fabrics respectively secured to said segmental wire members, in spaced relationship to the central hub, whereby an air space is provided between the fabric and hub, collectively adapted to form an annular buffing wheel.

9. In a bufling wheel section: a central hub; a plurality of arcs of buffing fabric, each supported by a metallic arc-shaped member; an air space between the arcs of buffing fabric and the central hub; and a plurality of metallic arcshaped members secured to the hub, adapted to support the arcs of bufiing fabric, and to conduct heat from the body of the fabric and transfer it to the air in said air space.

WAYNE S. THOMAS. 

